The Alabama women’s golf team turned in a 15-under par final round to win the 2018 NCAA Tallahassee Regional on Wednesday. The victory clinches the program’s 14th NCAA Championship appearance and 13th consecutive trip under head coach Mic Potter.

The Crimson Tide (282-276-273/831) finished 33-under par at the par-72, 6,342-yard Don Veller Seminole Golf Course and Club to set a new school regional record and equal the previous course record.

In addition to the 54-hole record regional score, Alabama’s -15 final round is also its single round regional low and low score vs. par.

The victory is the fourth of the season for the Tide, which equals the second-most in school history, and the fourth regional title in the last eight years (2011, 2013, 2017).

Individually, junior Lauren Stephenson (67-69-66/202) and sophomore Kristen Gillman (72-68-66/206) were 6-under par on Wednesday. The scores equal the previous school low round of 66 set by both Jennifer Kirby and Stephanie Meadow at the 2013 NCAA East Regional at Auburn, Ala.

“We got off to a slow start and Florida State jumped out ahead of us early on,” Potter said. “But we stayed patient and the birdies started to come. I think this was a good golf course for us because we drive the ball where we want to most of the time. That opens up some shots for us. That gave us some room to work with on our approaches.”

Stephenson finished second overall at 14-under par, which is also a new school record in regional play. Gillman tied for fourth with a 10-under par score that included four birdies and an eagle on the back nine on Wednesday.

Junior Cheyenne Knight (72-68-69/209) tied for ninth at -7 after a 3-under par final round. Freshman Angelica Moresco (71-71-73/215) was 2-over par on the day and tied for 23rd at -1. Senior Lakareber Abe (76-75-72/223) tied for 51st at 7-over par.

The Crimson Tide battled host Florida State (286-277-276/839) throughout the final round, as the Seminoles turned in a 12-under par day to finish second at -25. Alabama pulled away on the back nine as UA’s top four scorers finished -13 after the turn to seal the eight-shot victory.

Furman (280-283-283/846) finished third at -18 while Arizona (290-281-282/853) and Washington (273-289-292/854) finished fourth and fifth at -11 and -10, respectively.

After tying for sixth place at -5, Wake Forest (285-289-285/859) beat Clemson (285-279-295/859) on the fourth playoff hole to clinch the regional’s final spot in the NCAA Championships.

“If we can putt better, I think we have a chance to play well next week,” Potter added. “I would just like to see us continue to stay relax and let our natural abilities come through. We just have to keep picking targets, hit them and then hit them again.”

The 2018 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships will be held May 18-23 at Oklahoma State University’s Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla.

NCAA Tallahassee Regional

Don Veller Seminole Golf Course & Club

Tallahassee, Fla.

Host: Florida State University

 

Alabama Final Individual Results

Lauren Stephenson – 67-69-66/202 (-14)

T-4. Kristen Gillman – 72-68-66/206 (-10)

T-9. Cheyenne Knight – 72-68-69/209 (-7)

T-23. Angelica Moresco – 71-71-73/215 (-1)

T-51. Lakareber Abe – 76-75-72/223 (+7)

 

Final Team Standings

  1. ALABAMA – 282-276-273/831 (-33)*
  2. Florida State – 286-277-276/839 (-25)*
  3. Furman – 280-283-283/846 (-18)*
  4. Arizona – 290-281-282/853 (-11)*
  5. Washington – 273-289-292/854 (-10)*
  6. Wake Forest – 285-289-285/859 (-5)*#
  7. Clemson – 285-279-295/859 (-5)
  8. Georgia – 287-292-287/866 (+2)
  9. UNLV – 295-283-289/867 (+3)
  10. Missouri – 296-290-291/877 (+13)

*- Advances to NCAA Championships

#- Advances with playoff win

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